Warning IStanbul

I got pick pocketed  in a tram in Istanbul . I had my  hands on both my wallets as an East European  lady kept bumping however a huge crowd pass by me and I thing they made off with my wallet when I raised my hands

I have experience in public transport in Italy, Spain, Asia but got fixed in Istanbul No help from police who were nearby .

 My wallet got pinched with my cards, Euro 286 cash and  2 silver 10G of Netherlands 1995 steen and 1996  groot and a Caribbean St marteen and Curacao  5G guider 2023.  To prevent customs attention , I  kept them in my 

Any collectors in IStanbul please watch out if they appear on sale.

Any Dutch collectors Pls help in getting the  10G 1995 and 10G 1996.. Those I bought for 8 Euros but the Caribbean Guilder I had to pay Euro 69 a bit more than issue price of Eur 65

regards

Shamik

So annoying when something like this happens.

Hope it was easy to block the cards. Would be a good outcome if the cards are not misused.

Sorry to hear this has happened to you.  Your story sounds to me like you were targeted (likely near the shop you patronized). 

Just some friendly advice:

I have a friend who often buys gold when he travels.  I went with him once in Tallin, Estonia b/c he told me he never buys gold alone (he always brings a friend or 2).  He also researches every bullion store's location before he visits the place.  Sometimes the google search doesn't tell him the full story.  If they are located in poorer/shadier city neighbourhood he will just look elsewhere.  This may mean taking a taxi over public transit.  He has also gotten cold feet (concerns about the lay of the land since too many dodgy individuals nearby) more than once & has aborted a precious metal purchase due to safety concerns.  He has told me that he will pay a slight premium for a purchase at a place in a touristy location since it means getting his gold safely (without issue).  

I once purchased some gold in TO and wasn't too happy about the location.  There were a lot of beggars (& shifty people) in the area.  As I left the premises I walked for about 5 miles on the main drag & kept checking store windows to see if I was followed. Everything turned out good, but I understand people's concern when purchasing bullion as an investment (& actually prefer delivery to my door these days).

You may also be wise to purchase a money belt but if you do be sure you have some cash (& few bills) to surrender rather than risk your neck over some silver (or whatever you buy). My buddy does that too. 

Good luck & keep safe! Hope you can recover your stolen property.

What about that old trick, like Charlie Chaplin, tying a string or chain to your wallet? 😁

This is a true story. Many years ago when we visited Italy (Rome), the tour guide told us not to carry anything in a bag as it may get snatch by robbers on a motor bike (thieves on wheels). However, the tour guide also told us the carrying your camera around you neck or shoulder is fine. I did not know that even thieves have such rules and principal. The tour guide also told us that they also leave the tour bus unlock, so that any unauthorised person can go in for an inspection. This is to avoid them from breaking any windows to get in. Needless to say, we were told to take everything from the bus when we go sightseeing. So, when we see any people (in pair) riding on a motor bike, we just have to be extra careful.

Around that time, my friend also visited Rome alone, and there were these bunch of kids walked up to him and surrounded him. My friend asked them to go away, and within few seconds, he realised that his wallet was gone. My friend managed to get his wallet back as he more or less knew who the pick pocketer was. It was believed those were gypsy kids.

P/S… Apology to the Italians here. These were true stories, and I am sure your country is a very save place to visit now.

BluHawk

So annoying when something like this happens.

Hope it was easy to block the cards. Would be a good outcome if the cards are not misused.

You can block your card via Internet Banking.

That is sad.

You just can't be too careful. I would not buy coins or bullion in any place not in a safe first world countrty with a robust and clean police force.

Hi

The coins I had already bought in Amsterdam . This was in Istanbul for a connecting flight . Indian customs even things US Dollar coins are gold if kept separately so I put these 3 coins - Curacao & ST Maarten 5 G 2023  (bought for 65 Euros) , 10 G 1995 and 10 G 1996 Netherlands for another 8-9 euros each. 

These were in my wallet. Like I fool I did not remove my Euro cash  and put it in my other wallet.. 

I did see an East European  lady bumping and moved to the side , but a huge crowd passed by and I guess in split seconds they took my wallet (they may have noticed me inquiring how to buy tickets),

Luckily the cards are all blocked.. though only my Dubai bank debit card had contactless enabled.  However 286 Euros cash  can buy me food for 5 months in India plus the coins are impossible to get back as I may never go to AMsterdam  again. 

I never did get to go the the Turkish coin market , as I had no FX left and I did not want to take further risks.

I called the Police immediately  with 2 minutes as a car was passing by but they send me to tourism police 5 km away  who sent me to someone else and finally I was sent back to the original place where the theft ocurred and the actual tourism police was just 50m, away,

They also did not help and sent me to another station where they filed a complaint in Turkish .

I am diabetic but they did not allow me to use the loo or offer me water or coffee and they spent 2 hrs eating before talking to me.

Turkey is a NATO member and I am surprised at the state.. As I had no money I asked them to drop me back to the airport which also they refused..In My country, police helps stranded tourists with cash and drops them to the station/airport or embassy…

My consulate only told me they will call back and never bothered.

I had to see some commemorative 2 Euro coins I had t raise money for the taxi back to Istanbul airport

shamikb

Turkey is a NATO member and I am surprised at the state.. 

Turkey is a NATO member all right… with an inflation spiring out of control.

I'm not quite sure what you expected of a NATO member in this case.

Kind regards colleagues.

So I really wouldn't involve NATO.

      Wherever there is a lot of tourist traffic, there are gangs of pickpockets who to create an illusion and put pressure on passers-by in order to rob them.  One is in charge of creating a reaction, and the other takes the cables or pockets-the third watches the surroundings.

It is rehearsed and played out and you can meet it both in Rome and Prague and everywhere else.

      As for the police, it's the same everywhere, it's bureaucracy and they won't provide you with anything beyond their mission 

I was interested in the note about the presence of "Slavic women" - how did you know that? They were "Roma fellow citizens"

Ivan

Humor:   When you find a wallet with money at the market.

Call the radio and say. ,,I found a wallet with three hundred euros at the market-residence in Baltimore was also on the card in the name of John Smis.

Please, please play him a nice song.

Thank you😁🤑

*Pay attention wherever there is a large tourist concentration of people

* Always carry a wallet - either hung on your chest under your clothes

*Or in a bag in front of you at your waist and hold it

Ahoj

shamikb

Hi

 

The coins I had already bought in Amsterdam . This was in Istanbul for a connecting flight . Indian customs even things US Dollar coins are gold if kept separately so I put these 3 coins - Curacao & ST Maarten 5 G 2023  (bought for 65 Euros) , 10 G 1995 and 10 G 1996 Netherlands for another 8-9 euros each. 

These were in my wallet. Like I fool I did not remove my Euro cash  and put it in my other wallet.. 

I did see an East European  lady bumping and moved to the side , but a huge crowd passed by and I guess in split seconds they took my wallet (they may have noticed me inquiring how to buy tickets),

 

 

Luckily the cards are all blocked.. though only my Dubai bank debit card had contactless enabled.  However 286 Euros cash  can buy me food for 5 months in India plus the coins are impossible to get back as I may never go to AMsterdam  again. 

I never did get to go the the Turkish coin market , as I had no FX left and I did not want to take further risks.

 

I called the Police immediately  with 2 minutes as a car was passing by but they send me to tourism police 5 km away  who sent me to someone else and finally I was sent back to the original place where the theft ocurred and the actual tourism police was just 50m, away,

They also did not help and sent me to another station where they filed a complaint in Turkish .

I am diabetic but they did not allow me to use the loo or offer me water or coffee and they spent 2 hrs eating before talking to me.

 

Turkey is a NATO member and I am surprised at the state.. As I had no money I asked them to drop me back to the airport which also they refused..In My country, police helps stranded tourists with cash and drops them to the station/airport or embassy…

My consulate only told me they will call back and never bothered.

I had to see some commemorative 2 Euro coins I had t raise money for the taxi back to Istanbul airport

 

 

 

 

Sorry to hear that you have to sell your 2 euro commemorative coins to raise money for yourself,at the end of the day those were only money that needed to spend, you should be Happy at least you had something that helped you  . Stop crying like a 4 year child and blaming others , finding fault in every thing except yourself ! You should be careful of your belongings and you are only responsible for your safety .Bad things can happen anywhere in the world be it USA or Africa or Asia .

trailblazer1

 

 

Sorry to hear that you have to sell your 2 euro commemorative coins to raise money for yourself,at the end of the day those were only money that needed to spend, you should be Happy at least you had something that helped you  . Stop crying like a 4 year child and blaming others , finding fault in every thing except yourself ! You should be careful of your belongings and you are only responsible for your safety .Bad things can happen anywhere in the world be it USA or Africa or Asia .

Don't be too hard on him as he has already lost his coins. Whilst one must be very careful when away from home, no one would expect to get robbed. I would be devastated if that happened to me, even though I am very careful with my belongings, especially my passport. No matter how careful you can be, sometimes this unfortunate incident does happen to you. Perhaps take this as a valuable lesson learnt and trust no one except yourself when you are traveling in a foreign land. It is not just robbers you have to worry about, there are many scammers too. Be it in a shop, streets, and even at the airport (taxis).

I am curious how do you know they were East European?

allexis

I am curious how do you know they were East European?

Let me guess - OP is from India, the pickpocketeers were Roma, who to the ignorant looks almost like people from South Asia. To make a distinction between the two, most Romas that have immigrated to the rest of Europe are from the Balkans in Eastern Europe.